AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine has commissioned a state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital in the Western Region to strengthen newborn healthcare and help reduce neonatal mortality in the municipality.
The 60-bed facility, constructed at a cost of US$1.1 million, was built in response to appeals from health authorities for improved neonatal care infrastructure. The project comes at a time when the municipality continues to record neonatal mortality rates significantly above the national target.
Health data indicate that Tarkwa Nsuaem recorded an average institutional neonatal mortality rate of 15.21 deaths per 1,000 live births between 2023 and 2025—more than double Ghana’s national target of 7 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, Daniel Boadi, said the investment reflects the company’s commitment to giving every child an equal opportunity to survive and thrive.
“We affirm a sacred commitment to protect our most vulnerable citizens—our newborns. The theme for today’s commissioning, ‘Strengthening Newborn Care Through Sustainable Partnerships,’ captures the heart of why we are here. Every child, regardless of circumstances, deserves the chance to survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential,” he said.
Mr. Boadi revealed that during engagements with the hospital’s management, the company learned that an average of 80 critically ill and premature babies were being treated each month in a single overcrowded makeshift room.
“The clinical expertise was present, but the infrastructure was missing. Today, we change that story. On behalf of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, I am proud to hand over this modern US$1.1 million, 60-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality and neighbouring districts,” he added.
He further appealed to hospital management and the community to properly maintain the facility to ensure it continues to serve future generations.
“A facility of this scale is a precious asset. As we hand over the keys today, I appeal to the hospital management and the community to safeguard and maintain this facility with diligence so it remains a beacon of hope and healing for generations to come,” he said.
Director of Health Administration and Support Services at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Ebo Hammond, described the project as timely, noting that the hospital’s previous NICU had struggled for years with congestion and inadequate space.
“For a long time, the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital’s makeshift NICU operated under severe congestion, placing newborns and nursing mothers at considerable risk,” he stated.
Dr. Hammond disclosed that the municipality recorded institutional neonatal mortality rates of 17.57 per 1,000 live births in 2023, 17.06 in 2024, and 11 in 2025, resulting in a three-year average of 15.21 per 1,000 live births, far exceeding the national target.
He expressed confidence that the new facility would significantly improve neonatal survival rates while enhancing healthcare delivery.
“On behalf of the Ghana Health Service, the hospital management, our hardworking health professionals, and the many families who will find hope within these walls, I extend our heartfelt appreciation to AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine. This state-of-the-art 60-bed facility will not only provide adequate space for neonatal care but will also serve as a centre of excellence for training healthcare professionals in newborn care,” he said.
The new NICU is equipped with specialised newborn and premature baby care units, a dedicated neonatal clinic, Kangaroo Mother Care wards, a mothers’ lodge, milk expression facilities, an internal pharmacy, and modern infection prevention and control systems designed to provide world-class care for newborns.
